Protective apparatus for a portable device

ABSTRACT

A protective apparatus for a portable device is disclosed. The protective apparatus generally includes a case and a jacket. The case is configured for accommodating the portable device and the jacket is configured for receiving the case. The protective apparatus not only can reduce the damage come from a sudden and violate collision to the portable device, but also can supply a whole protection for the portable device without interfering the operation to the portable device.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a protective apparatus, particularly to a protective apparatus for a portable device.

2. Related Art

As portable devices become as smaller and as tinier, protecting these small, tiny, multi-functioned, sophisticated portable devices has become a subject itself to electronic designers. Generally, not only does present portable devices have a liquid crystal display for displaying images, but also have input keys for entering information. The portable devices are further fitted with interfaces for communicating with peripheral equipment.

Present protective mediums typically consist of a case and a cover for portable devices. When using a portable device with protective medium, a user has to take the portable devices out of the protective medium first before using the portable device. Some protective mediums prefer to mount a transparent membrane on an opening excavated in the cover for displaying the information displayed on the LCD (liquid crystal display), but such a configuration undermines a sturdiness of the protective medium.

The U.S. Pat. No. 6,646,864, entitled “Protective case for touch screen device”, issued on Nov. 11, 2003, discloses such a protective case of a portable device. The case includes a rigid case and an aperture in the case. A flexible membrane mounts in the aperture for protecting the touch screen of the portable device.

However the present protective case has two disadvantages, first of all, the protective case lacks a shock-absorbing element. Second of all, the user cannot touch the input keys directly when operating the portable device.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous if the protective case provides a shock-absorbing element for limiting harsh collisions. And it would be better if the protective case provides the user a genuine touch sense when operating the portable device.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known protective case now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a protective apparatus make up the shortcomings of present case.

To attain this, the protective apparatus generally includes a case and a jacket. The case is configured for accommodating the portable device and the jacket is configured for receiving the case.

A primary object of the present invention is to reduce the damage come from a sudden and violate collision to the portable device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective apparatus can provide a whole protection for the portable device accommodated therein without interfering the operation to the portable device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a solid view of a portable device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention including a case and a jacket;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the case of FIG. 1 in an explode state;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the case of FIG. 1 in a close state;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the case of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the case of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the jacket; and

FIG. 7 is a top view of the jacket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a solid view of a protective apparatus 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The protective apparatus 1 includes a sturdy case 2 and an elastic jacket 3. The case 2 is configured for accommodating a portable device and the jacket 3 is used for receiving the case 2.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are perspective views of the case 2 in an exploded view and in a closed state respectively. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are a top view and a front view of the case respectively. The case comprises a cover 21 and a holder 22 which secures each other tightly to form a vessel for accommodating a portable device. In the preferred embodiment, the case 2 is designed for accommodating a portable device that is in a predetermined structure. The case 2 is made of a sturdy, scratch resistant material so as to limit damage from any collisions the case sustains.

Referring to the cover 21, at least an area of a top panel 211 of the cover 21 is constructed with transparent materials, this is done so that information displayed on a screen of the portable device is viewable through the transparent material. In addition, the case 2 defines one or more cover openings according to a shape and a position of the operational keys of the portable device when accommodated in the case 2, thus, allowing the operational keys to be accessible through the cover openings when the portable device is accommodated in the case 2. For example, in the preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the case 2 defines a cover opening 24 in a circular form towards an end of the top panel 211 so as to allow the operational keys to be directly accessible.

Referring to the holder 22 in FIG. 2, a soft pad 23 is disposed on a base panel of the holder 22. The pad 23 is made of flexible material to dampen any impacts between the portable device and the case 2. The pad 23 further constricts the portable device within the case 2.

The case 2 (as shown in FIG. 3) defines a peripheral opening 26 in one panel of the case 2 for interfaces of the portable device to be accessible. The peripheral opening 26 allows peripherals to connect to the interfaces of the portable device without removing the portable device out of the case 2. In the preferred embodiment, a half-circular top opening defined on a front panel 212 of the cover 21 is aligned with a half-circular bottom opening defined on a front panel 222 of the holder 22, thereby collaboratively forming the peripheral opening 26 that is an oval form when the case 2 is in a closed state. A half-circular top rim 217 and a half-circular bottom rim 227 extend along an edge of the half-circular top opening and the half-circular bottom opening respectively.

The case 2 further includes a flange 25 (as shown in FIG. 3) formed along a middle position of the left panel, the rear panel, and the right panel of the case 2. The flange 25 is formed by a cover rim 216 of the cover 21 and a holder rim 226 of the holder 22 (as shown in FIG. 2). The cover rim 216 extends along from an outer edge of the three panels (namely a right panel 213, a rear panel 214, and a left panel 215) of the cover 21 and ends of the rim 226 connect to ends of the rim 227 correspondingly. The holder rim 226 is extends from the edge of the three panels (namely a right panel 223, a rear panel 224, and a left panel 225) of the holder 22 and ends of the holder rim 226 connect to ends of the rim 227 correspondingly. Furthermore, when a state of the case 2 is the closed state, a bottom surface of the rim 216 is aligned and in contact with an upper surface of the rim 217.

The cover 21 and the holder 22 are fastened together with at least a latch. The latch may adopt any latching structures as long as a position of the cover 21 and the holder 22 are secured together. In the preferred embodiment the latch consists of two striking members 228 and two keeper members 218. The keeper members 218 are defined on opposite sides of the cover 21 (i.e., the right surface and the left surface) correspondingly. Each of The keeper members 218 defines a recess 210 on the cover rim 216 further defining a groove 219. The striking members 228 are disposed on opposite sides of the holder 22 (i.e., the right surface and the left surface) correspondingly. Each of The striking members 228 defines an extension 220 on the holder rim 226 further defining a bolt 229. The extension 220 extends from a top surface of the holder rim 226 corresponding to the recess 210 of the keeper member 218, and the bolts 229 protrudes out of the extensions 220 corresponding with the groove 219 of the cover rim 216.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate structural specifications of the jacket 3. The jacket 4 composes of wear-resisting materials. The jacket 3 defines a peripheral opening 36 corresponding to a size and a shape of the peripheral opening 26 of the case 2. The jacket 3 further defines a groove 35 excavated on the interior wall of the left side, rear side and right side to be inserted with the flange 25 of the case 2 correspondingly.

The following steps illustrate how to assemble the protective apparatus 1 accommodating the portable device in. Firstly, insert the portable device into the holder 22 and then close the cover 21 Secondly, sleeve the jacket 3 onto the case 2; thirdly, connect an earphone connecting wire to the interface of the portable device through the peripheral opening 36 of the jacket 3 and the peripheral opening 26 of the case 2. After the portable device is accommodated in the protective apparatus 1, the portable device is controllable by operating the operation keys exposed by the cover opening 24 on the top panel 211. The information displayed by the portable device is viewable via the transparent area of the case 2. Sound can be listened from outputting by the portable device by using an earphone.

It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention. 

1. A protective apparatus for a portable device, comprising: a case configured for accommodating the portable device; and a jacket configured for receiving the case.
 2. The protective apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the case comprises a cover and a holder fastened together with a latch, the latch secures the cover and the holder tightly to form a vessel for accommodating the portable device.
 3. The protective apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cover defines a rim extending along an outer edge of the cover, and the holder defines a rim extending along an outer edge of the holder; the case defines a flange formed by the rim of the cover and the rim of the holder.
 4. The protective apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least an area of a top panel of the case is constructed with transparent material and the information displayed on a screen of the portable device is viewable through the transparent area.
 5. The protective apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the case defines one or more cover openings according to a shape and a position of operational keys of the portable device accommodated in the case.
 6. The protective apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a peripheral opening is defined in one of panels of the case as an interface for the portable device.
 7. The protective apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the case includes a soft pad disposed on a base panel of the holder.
 8. The protective apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the jacket composes of soft wearable material.
 9. The protective apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the jacket includes a groove defined in the interior wall of the case.
 10. The protective apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the jacket includes a peripheral opening corresponding to the size and the shape of the peripheral opening of the case. 